foodconsumer.org: New Breakthrough Studies of ADHD Promising

New Breakthrough Studies of ADHD Promising
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admin on 09/16/2009 23:10:00
 
By Rachel Stockton
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association is
reporting on a particular connection in the brain that may be responsible for
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Images of 55 adults with ADHD and 44 normal adults taken by the Brookhaven
National Laboratory in New York were studied and compared by the team. Those who
had ADHD had a lower concentration of dopamine markers in their brains. 
Dopamine is a mood regulator that assists concentration and motivation.
Researchers believe there is a disruption in the amount of dopamine reaching the
brain of those with ADHD.  In addition to facilitating concentration, dopamine
is also crucial in that it allows a person to perceive rewards and to be
motivated in their behavior.   According to the research team, if there is no
perceived reward, task completion will not take place.
Although symptoms of ADHD may vary somewhat, there is a core group of behaviors
that are consistent among those who have been diagnosed with the disorder: 
inability to focus, difficulty staying on task, becoming easily distracted, and
an inability to sit still.
Ritalin and Adderall are the two most common psycho stimulants prescribed to
those with ADHD.  They work by increasing dopamine and norephinephren , and
thereby motivation, in the brain.
On September 30, a panel will be convening on behalf of the David Lynch
Foundation to report on the positive effects of another, non-traditional method
of helping students with ADHD:  transcendental meditation.
The timing is no coincidence; September is National ADHD Public Awareness Month.
 Students taking part in the study practiced meditation twice during the school
day for three months.  After the end of the trial period, the majority reported
a 50% reduction in stress level and anxiety.  This is pivotal, as children with
ADHD have an impeded ability to deal effectively with stress.
The reason meditation works, according to the panel, is that no concentration is
required.  They also emphasized that for children taking medication such as
Adderall, symptoms of the disorder are often not reduced enough; meditation
seems to be able to fill in the gap for some of them.